Page 44 of Red Marked

She stays quiet while I go through all of it.

“We’re no longer safe. I have to do something. I’m going to find him and expose him. Then all of you can come home.”

“It’s a good idea,” Scarlet says, nodding.

I’m shocked to my core.

Flint narrows his eyes in confusion.

“I’m glad you agree.” I smile.

“It’s a good idea, but I’ll go instead of you,” Scarlet tells both of us. “I also saw the male in the suit. I can ID him just as well as you.”

Flint looks down at the ground. His jaw tightens.

My heart sinks.

She turns to me. “You can’t go, Star. Not because you aren’t capable, but because you’re needed here. You’re the leader. You keep everybody calm and know exactly what to do in an emergency. They follow you. They listen. I don’t know if I can do it.” She jabs a thumb at her chest. “I can leave, and everything will keep running. You can trust me to do whatever is required. I will find the male. I’ll fix it.”

Flint looks at me. “Can I speak to you alone for a second?” he asks me.

Scarlet’s chin comes up. “No. Stay out of this!”

“I wasn’t asking you,” he says.

“Whatever you have to say, you say it here.” I hold up a hand before Scarlet can say more. “There’s nothing you can tell me that she can’t hear.”

He sits back down. He looks at Scarlet, then at me.

“Okay, then. If you’re sure?” he asks Scarlet, who nods. “I think you’re the better candidate,” he tells me. “Not her.”

Scarlet’s eyes narrow.

“The person who does this needs to have a cool, calm head. Someone who knows when to talk and when to shut the hell up.” He doesn’t look away from me. “Someone who can think on their feet.”

“I’m quite capable,” Scarlet deadpans.

“Someone who can hold their temper. I’ve seen Scarlet’s temper.” He addresses me like Scarlet’s not there. “I’ve had it at my throat.”

“It was all well-deserved. You can’t blame me for not trusting you,” Scarlet snarls at Flint.

“That right there is a big-ass problem.” He turns to her, pointing as he speaks. “I mean no disrespect, Scarlet. You’re too much of a hothead to make it in society. You will stick out. I can promise you that right now.”

“I can do it!” Scarlet yells.

“Yet you show me at every turn that you can’t,” he says calmly.

“Screw you, asshole!” Her face is red. She jabs a finger at his chest as she talks. “You don’t get to fly in and start dictating how it’s going to be. It doesn’t work like that.”

“Actually, it does work like that.” He keeps his cool. “I’m the one putting my ass on the line here. I refuse to smuggle a hothead like you into the rehabilitation center. I refuse to take you to Mistveil where you will be picked up on the first day. You gave me the terms, Star. Here are mine. I will agree to take you back with me. It has to be you. It’s nonnegotiable.”

“You’re an asshole. I don’t like you one bit. I still don’t trust you. I think you want to take Star away from us to weaken us, and I won’t let you.”

“Scarlet, you—” I start to say.

“Don’t Scarlet me.” She turns back to me. “You want her,” Scarlet says to Flint.

“You’re insane!” Flint says.